Here’s the thing:

there’s a reason why diets are synonymous with deprivation. When weight loss is the foremost goal – as it often is – we tend to fixate on what we can’t have and less so on what we need more of to ensure that our bodies are able to function at their best.

As a goal, “weight loss” alone is fairly meaningless. Take boxer Anthony Joshua. At 110kg and 6ft 6in, his bodymass index makes him technically “overweight”. That’s plainly ridiculous. But it illustrates a point: if you’re only focusing on eating less and dropping kilos, you’re not truly working on achieving the powerful body you want.

You’ve heard that muscle weighs more than fat.

Many weight-loss plans target dense muscle over fat mass, because it produces a bigger shift on the scales. After a week spent starving, you might be lighter, but only because your fat-to-muscle ratio has tipped the wrong way. So, for men who are serious about getting in shape, there are plenty of reasons to eat smarter: raising your immune system, elevating your energy, boosting endurance and getting stronger – particularly if recent events have necessitated a gym hiatus.

“Diet is a key piece of rebuilding strength,”

says Brian St Pierre of Precision Nutrition. “Without sufficient macronutrients and micronutrients, you won’t be able to recover adequately or perform at your peak.”

And that kind of strength will benefit not just your workouts, but your focus on work, your mental resilience and everything in between. Will you lose fat on this programme? Absolutely. But far more importantly, you will do so without weakening your body in the process.